Minute Zero by Todd Moss Page A

in places like Cuba and North Korea where the politics are stuck. And I think I can apply the same principles to help the U.S. government shape volatile transitions, like in Egypt and Iran. I know I could make a real contribution to increasing the leverage of U.S. policy in those places. Yet the survival of S/CRU now hangs on . . . Zimbabwe.”
    “Judd, you are looking at this all wrong.
This is
an opportunity.
It’s a
good thing
the Secretary is forcing you into a corner.”
    “It is?”
    “Absolutely. Fuck Rogerson.”
    “Fuck Rogerson?”
    “You do your thing, Judd.”
    “I know. You’ve told me.”
    “You’re getting frustrated, but this is your chance. And if something really terrible starts to happen again in Zimbabwe, then you have to stop it.”
    Judd wrinkled his brow. “Again?”
    “Yes, Judd. The last time something horrible happened there, no one did anything.
No one gave a shit.
You can’t let those poor people get slaughtered again.”
    “Who’s getting slaughtered, Jess?”
    She stopped and took a deep breath. “Judd, you have a chance to make your mark and to do the right thing. How can you not seize this?”
    “What horrible things? What are you talking about?”
    “You have to do the right thing, Judd. That’s all I’m saying.”
    “Since when are you emotional about Zimbabwe? I’ve never heard you talk about it before and suddenly you’re an expert?”
    “I’ve been reading.”
    “Even if I want to help, I don’t have much time. Or leverage. You know that. I’m flying in there the same day the election starts, and it’s just me.”
    “Didn’t you just say you have new ideas for leverage?”
    “Yes. But what am I supposed to do?”
    “Win.”
    “No one cares about Zimbabwe. Landon Parker wouldn’t have given it to me if anyone did. I have no political top cover, no time, no tools.”
    “Then turn those all to your advantage. Fly under the radar, be quick, use what you have. And fight to the death, Judd. That’s what you did in Mali and it worked. You really have no other choice.”
    “No choice . . .” Judd mumbled, and rubbed his temples.
    “You just have to win.”
    “I
do
have to win this one, Jess.”
    “So stop feeling sorry for yourself. It’s unprofessional.”
    Judd dropped his hands and relaxed his shoulders. Then he looked right into Jessica’s eyes.
God, she is beautiful. And smart. I am lucky,
he thought. “You’re right, Jess.”
    “Good. About time. So, what’s your plan?” She sipped her wine.
    “I’m working on it,” he said.
    “You’re leaving tonight, sweetheart.”
    “I know.”
    “Well, let’s start with item one. What’s your objective?”
    Judd didn’t reply immediately.
    “Come on, Judd! What are your goals? Who’re your allies? Who’s gonna block you? These are the basics.”
    “You are quite the romantic, Jessica. You surprise your husband for a dinner date and you want to talk about strategy for regime change.”
    “Regime change?” she asked with a smirk. She sat up straighter and pushed out her chest. “Okaaay, good.
Regime change.
At least you know what you are trying to achieve.”
    “That’s not official policy,” he said quickly.
    “If you say so. Where’s Rogerson on this? What’s he going to do?”
    “He won’t do anything. Just the opposite. He’s just trying to keep things quiet. Stability, first and forever.”
    “Okay, item two: your team. Who else matters?”
    “Rogerson’s brought the whole building in. Every State bureau plus another half dozen federal agencies. I think his interagency task force has twenty-five or thirty people now.”
    “That can’t possibly work.”
    “He calls it ‘whole-of-government.’”
    “Sounds like a circus,” she said, scrunching her face in the way she often did when she smelled something foul. “Listen, Judd, this isn’t my area of expertise. But from years of running agriculture projects in some pretty crazy places, I’ve learned one thing: You